SOUTHPORT singer Paula Delaney has been performing as Amy Housewine, a tribute act to Amy Winehouse, since 2005 and is considered one of the best in Europe.

Paula spoke to the Visiter about her growth as an artist, setting up her own business, Actastic Entertainments, and her forthcoming Christmas show.

Paula said: “I started singing when I was four. No-one else in the family sings, so I really don't know where it comes from!

“At 17, I went professional, but I didn't start impersonating Amy until I was 19 when I was asked to take part in a charity gig as a character.

“I chose Amy because I thought she was really different. Nobody else looked like her, and I really related to her music.

“For four months, I studied and practised every day, I know all her mannerisms and all her songs. I rehearsed every day, it was really hard work.

“Development took well over a year. I was constantly thinking about how to improve the act and took signals from the audience. As long as the audience was happy, I couldn't ask for more.”

Paula's act has taken her all over the world, but she counts her mum as her number one fan.

She said: “Everybody, especially my mum, who is my best friend, has reacted so positively and are so supportive.

“My mum has been to nearly every performance of mine and no matter where I go, France, America, China, I always make sure that my mum has the opportunity to come, too.

“I am not sure how my friends and family see me when I am performing as Amy, they probably do find it a little weird, but they think I am a bit mad anyway!

“I didn't go too far to emulate Amy, I don't have any tattoos. I did book one once, I paid the deposit and everything, but I couldn't do it, I was too scared.

“The tattoos I wear are fake but I make sure that they are realistic.”

Performing in Liverpool is one of Paula's highlights, but her gigs have had their ups and downs.

She said: “The best gig I have ever done would have to be the Mathew Street Festival.

“My family's home town, 40,000 people and headlining the main stage was just really amazing.

“I remember one gig I did on New Year's Eve a few years ago I was really ill, I had to keep going off stage to be sick.

“I was falling over all the time but the audience loved it, they thought it was part of the act! I handed out a lot of business cards that night!”

Amy Winehouse died, at just 27, of alcohol intoxication in July, last year, after battling a host of drug addictions.

Paula felt it was only right to continue the songs of the talented artist.

She said: “With my job, I can get booked up to six months in advance, I even have a booking for 2014, so when Amy died I didn't want to let people down, so instead I did a special tribute where I would sort of break character and pay my respects to her.

“People responded really well to that. I can't say that the audiences’ responses have changed since Amy passed away, I have always had an amazing reaction.

“I tried to keep up as much as I could, I had to follow very closely because of my job.

“It was really sad what happened to Amy, I was devastated.

“ I am not normally affected so much, but I was devastated. I perform a lot more as myself now. I feel that being a tribute act to Amy has helped me grow as a performer and has brought out a new entertainment factor to my act. “

Paula admits that she has sometimes felt let down by agents and agencies.

She said: “I felt it was all about money, people need to be able to get the right information and grow.

“A lot of agents and sometimes acts, themselves, can forget that it is a lot of hard work. I decided to set up my own business in 2009 after feeling let down by agents and agencies. At Actastic Entertainment, we represent over 250 acts.

“We make sure that we see every act as it is important to know who you are representing. I would like to give people the same positive experiences I had and to help them grow and develop.”

The Actastic Entertainments Christmas Party Night will take place on Thursday, December 20, at 7pm, at the Royal Clifton Hotel, on The Promenade, Southport.

Paula said: “At the Actastic Entertainments Christmas Party Night, guests will be treated to a three- course meal, a disco and a show featuring seven amazing acts from everywhere from London to Liverpool. It's going to be mega!”

X-Factor finalist Jake Quickenden, who made it through to the judges’ houses in September and performed for Nicole Scherzinger and Ne-Yo in Dubai, will be appearing as Lily Savage, who will be hosting the evening of tribute acts which will include “Lady Gaga”, Amy Housewine and “Oasis”.

Paula said: “We will also be collecting for the charity Vital Sounds Foundation, which raises awareness of Sudden Adult Death Syndrome (SADS).

“While I was on tour, a good friend of mine, who was only 27, died suddenly from this condition so it means a lot for me to be raising money in honour of his memory.”

FOR tickets to the The Actastic Entertainments Christmas Party Night, on December 20, please call 01704 880894 or visit www. savageshow.co.uk